Disease related prion protein (PrPSc) is readily detectable in lymphoreticular tissues in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) but not in other forms of human prion disease.1–5 This distinctive pathogenesis together with the unknown population prevalence of asymptomatic vCJD infection1,5,6 has led to significant concerns that secondary transmission of vCJD prions will occur through a wide range of surgical procedures.1,3,7 Risk assessment for intestinal endoscopy, biopsy, and surgery is currently limited by a lack of knowledge about relative PrPSc levels and prion titres within intestinal tissues in vCJD patients. Because of its high content of lymphoid follicles, terminal ileum is regarded as the intestinal tissue having the highest potential for iatrogenic transmission of vCJD prions.8,9 Here we provide the first report of relative PrPSc concentrations in vCJD terminal ileum.

Tissues were obtained at autopsy with consent from relatives . . . [Full text of this article]

Disease related prion protein (PrPSc) is readily detectable in lymphoreticular tissues in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) but not in other forms of human prion disease.1–5 This distinctive pathogenesis together with the unknown population prevalence of asymptomatic vCJD infection1,5,6 has led to significant concerns that secondary transmission of vCJD prions will occur through a wide range of surgical procedures.1,3,7 Risk assessment for intestinal endoscopy, biopsy, and surgery is currently limited by a lack of knowledge about relative PrPSc levels and prion titres within intestinal tissues in vCJD patients. Because of its high content of lymphoid follicles, terminal ileum is regarded as the intestinal tissue having the highest potential for iatrogenic transmission of vCJD prions.8,9 Here we provide the first report of relative PrPSc concentrations in vCJD terminal ileum.

Tissues were obtained at autopsy with consent from relatives . . . [Full text of this article]

Use of Materials Derived From Cattle in Human Food and Cosmetics [Docket No. 2004N-0081] RIN 0910-AF47

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the interim final rule on use of materials derived from cattle in human food and cosmetics published in the Federal Register of July 14, 2004. In the July 14, 2004, interim final rule, FDA designated certain materials from cattle, including the entire small intestine, as ``prohibited cattle materials'' and banned the use of such materials in human food, including dietary supplements, and in cosmetics. FDA is taking this action in response to comments received on the interim final rule. Information was provided in comments that persuaded the agency that the distal ileum, one of three portions of the small intestine, could be consistently and effectively removed from the small intestine, such that the remainder of the small intestine, formerly a prohibited cattle material, could be used for human food or cosmetics. We (FDA) are also clarifying that milk and milk products, hide and hide-derived products, and tallow derivatives are not prohibited cattle materials. Comments also led the agency to reconsider the method cited in the interim final rule for determining insoluble impurities in tallow and to cite instead a method that is less costly to use and requires less specialized equipment. FDA issued the interim final rule to minimize human exposure to materials that scientific studies have demonstrated are highly likely to contain the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent in cattle infected with the disease. FDA believes that the amended provisions of the interim final rule provide the same level of protection from human exposure to the agent that causes BSE as the original provisions. ...

I would kindly like to submit the following ;

I find it very very disturbing that FDA now takes the position;

>>>Information was provided in comments that persuaded the agency that the distal ileum, one of three portions of the small intestine, could be consistently and effectively removed from the small intestine, such that the remainder of the small intestine, formerly a prohibited cattle material, could be used for human food or cosmetics. <<<

TSE science is emerging and the old testing techniques for TSEs are becoming much more sensitive than when some of these old BSE tissue bio-assays were done in the distant past. I urge once again for the FDA and the USDA to put forth sound science instead of the political and corporate science they have floundered with for the last 3 decades. THERE is much new data out that dispute the position the FDA/USDA have taken on SRMs.